I am a happy user of Telegram but I don't think re-inventing ethereum with a small team of developers is a great idea. But then again, using existing tech gives you fewer opportunities for cash grabs...
I don't pretend it is secure and listening to HN I've been halfway expecting a huge flaw to show up but so far, -nothing.
I'm not clear on stellar.
Tinfoil in me says that bank created Ripple just to get easy Bitcoin.